Penn Badgley had some harsh words for Netflix because one of their hit shows made Jeffrey Dahmer look like a good guy.
Now, when Netflix first put out Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, they didn’t think fans would be interested in a sadistic killer. However, in true internet style, some people took to Twitter to talk about how much they liked the Milwaukee Monster.
Many people wondered if it was the actor Evan Peters who caused the reaction or if it was just the sick nature of some people, but it’s safe to say that the situation was very worrying.
Jeffrey Dahmer drugged, molested, tortured, killed, raped, and dismembered mostly gay men of color. I understand that Evan Peters [is] good looking but stop sexualizing one of the most disgusting serial killers in America’s history. He was a deranged monster, not a sex symbol. Stop,
commented one user.
Jeffrey Dahmer drugged, molested, tortured, killed, raped, and dismembered mostly gay men of color. I understand that Evan Peters good looking but stop sexualizing one of the most disgusting serial killers in America's history. He was a deranged monster, not a sex symbol. Stop.
— Punktoad (@punktoadisdead) October 10, 2022
This seems to be a common theme in many of Netflix’s shows, as we saw with Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, which starred Zac Efron and told the story of Ted Bundy and how he became one of the most famous killers in the United States.
We’re also seeing the same reaction to Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg, being played on You.
Even though the 36-year-old actor has criticized people for finding Goldberg attractive in the past, that hasn’t stopped people from talking about it again after the most recent season.
The former Gossip Girl star has again criticized the reaction and blamed Netflix for allegedly making serial killers look cool.
In a recent interview, he had some things to say about fans who were interested in serial killers like Goldberg and Dahmer.
What’s your message to people who are finding themselves attracted to serial killers?
asked the interviewer.
Yeah, you need to look at that inside,
the actor started.
Now to be fair, with our show, you’re meant to fall in love with him. That’s on us.
But the actor went on to say that people who want to know more about real-life killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have only themselves to blame… and maybe Netflix.
Ted Bundy, that’s on you. Jeffrey Dahmer, that’s on you. That is on Netflix. That is squarely on the shoulders of Netflix.
I don’t have answers at this point – I do but they’re long and…
he adds, rolling his eyes.
Yeah, it’s weird man.
And it looks like other people agreed.
[People] who find serial killers attractive like jeffrey dahmer and ted bundy are gross. Like i get it if you can’t help finding them good looking, but romanticizing them? That’s so fucking gross. Imagine how the family of the victims must feel.
ppl who find serial killers attractive like jeffrey dahmer and ted bundy are gross. like i get it if you can’t help finding them good looking, but romanticizing them? that’s so fucking gross. imagine how the family of the victims must feel.
— katya 🌸 SAW TSOU LIVE (@storyoftragic) May 6, 2020
But not everyone agreed with the actor’s remarks, which were a hint of his hypocrisy.
@PennBadgley saying Netflix made Dahmer attractive and charming is laughable. That’s who Dahmer was, Netflix didn’t create who he was. Yet Penn plays an attractive, stalker and serial killer on You. Don’t take money from @netflix if you’re so disturbed by serial killers,
one user said.
@PennBadgley saying Netflix made Dahmer attractive and charming is laughable. That’s who Dahmer was, Netflix didn’t create who he was. Yet Penn plays an attractive, stalker and serial killer on You. Don’t take money from @netflix if you’re so disturbed by serial killers
— JaneBurgessAZ (@JaneBurgessAZ) February 13, 2023
No matter what, let’s all agree on one thing: serial killers should not be romanticized, no matter how “attractive” you find them.
